M's rally stuns Texas

The ball shot off his bat like a missile launched toward the second-deck facade in left field, and even before the crowd rose and teammates rushed to home plate to mob him in celebration, Carl Everett knew.

This game was over.

Everett's walk-off, three-run home run Wednesday night lifted the Mariners to a much-needed 9-6 victory over the Texas Rangers that not only snapped a three-game losing streak but also snuck the Mariners out of the American League cellar.

"This club needed that," Mariners pitching coach Rafael Chaves said.

Did it ever. It needed another solid start from Jamie Moyer, who allowed four runs (three earned) in six innings to keep the Mariners (7-9) in striking distance. It needed Adrian Beltre's first extra-base hit and run batted in this season.

It needed to come back from the 6-1 deficit it faced in the bottom of the eighth inning, needed four hits from Ichiro and needed a scoreless inning from right-hander J.J. Putz in the top of the ninth to set up Everett's heroics and a five-run final inning.

The Mariners needed a comeback like this.

Mariners update


Winning pitcher: J.J. Putz (1-0)

Losing pitcher: Francisco Cordero (1-2)

Tonight: Rangers at Mariners, 7:05 p.m., FSN/KOMO (1000 AM)

Starting pitchers:

M's Joel Pineiro (2-1)

vs. Vicente Padilla (2-1)

"In the past two years, we didn't have any wins like this," Ichiro said. "In the past two years, this is the most excited I've been. Hopefully, it results in a better mood for the future."

So now that the importance of the win has been established by none other than the man who sparked it, the Mariners find themselves in the same situation as a tree falling in an empty forest.

Did anyone hear it fall?

Or, closer to home, did anyone see that game on Wednesday night?

Not many. Not at Safeco Field, where a mere 17,613 turned out to witness the Mariners' most thrilling win this season.

The Mariners broke the record for the smallest crowd in Safeco Field history, set a day earlier in a loss to the Rangers.

Moyer, meanwhile, entered this game with a respectable earned-run average (3.93) and a not-so respectable record (0-2), thanks in large part to an offense that supported him like a bad back — to the tune of 1.67 runs per game and one run scored in his last two starts, both losses.

But the Mariners helped him in the first inning Wednesday. Ichiro singled to lead off, moved to second on Jose Lopez's bunt and scored when Raul Ibanez slapped a single.

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Just like that, Moyer had a lead.

It didn't last long. Hank Blalock tied season highs with three RBI and three hits and also scored two runs as the Rangers (6-9) amassed a large lead over the first 7 ½ innings.

Moyer could not get leadoff hitters out consistently, and his pitch count soared as a result. He allowed two more runs in the fifth inning and left after the sixth. Julio Mateo promptly allowed two more to score.

"Jamie did what he could," Chaves said. "He kept us in the ballgame, bottom line. The offense found a way to win."

The Mariners looked dead entering their half of the eighth. Beltre still didn't have an RBI. Moyer looked headed for his third straight loss.

And then the offense erupted. Ibanez, Everett and Beltre doubled — the Mariners tied a season high with six doubles and set a season high with 18 hits — and the score suddenly hit 6-4.

Texas closer Francisco Cordero plunked Ichiro, who scored after a Lopez double and a sacrifice fly by Ibanez. Then Richie Sexson singled. Then Kenji Johjima singled.

Then Everett stepped to the plate to face C.J. Wilson.

"Twenty-seven outs," Everett reminded himself. "That's our motto."

The blast smacked into the second-deck façade, and the Mariners' recent fortunes were reversed.

"It's good to see the smiles on people's faces," manager Mike Hargrove said. "It's good to hear the music in the clubhouse. It's good to be a Mariner right now."

Added Moyer: "We came back and showed ourselves and a lot of people what we're made of."

Greg Bishop: 206-464-3191 or gbishop@seattletimes.com